The Devil is The Duke

Nancy’s car pulled up in the driveway and Emeera realized it had been so long since she last saw that car or Nancy. A footman helped carry her bags to the boot of the car. The second he slammed it shut, Nancy drove out. When the small car went through the gate, Emeera started crying. Even though she had wanted so badly to get away, she still grieved the unexpected end of the life she had come to enjoyed. Yes, she had actually enjoyed it, however short-lived it had been. Nancy patted her back gently but kept her eyes fixed on the road ahead.

“Can you tell what happened?” She asked kindly. Emeera did. She told her how she found out about the pregnancy and how she had decided to tell the duke later. When she was done, Nancy gave her a tight squeeze with one hand. “You did not know what to do. I do not think his reaction is commensurate with the crime. Stop crying. We’ll get you another offer somewhere,” she said and made a turn into her parents’ street. Few minutes later they were at the gate of Nancy’s parents’ estate – one of the grandest estates in Savoy. Every time Emeera saw the house, she wondered why Nancy or anyone at all would prefer to have her own home than live here especially in the upper society where daughters were not allowed to leave their parents’ protection until they were married. Nancy was the rebel daughter in her family. Her sisters had married men their parents chose for them, becoming ladies in fancy homes who threw balls and had tea parties with other ladies. But Nancy preferred to get a University degree and earn some income. The gatekeeper opened the gate and Nancy drove in. It was well known that her parents did not approve of her driving but she did not care.

As she parked the car, Emeera noticed many other cars had been parked too and their drivers were waiting. Nancy stepped out of the car but Emeera remained inside.

“Nancy please make haste so we get home on time. I don’t feel too well,” Emeera pled.

“Home? We’re staying here. At least endure it for the week. The cottage is getting renovated. I had tried to argue that the house was perfectly fine but the roof was almost falling on my head and papa insisted on the renovations,” she sighed. Emeera knew Nancy’s father – Lord Athelstan, was right. The roof of the cottage had been crying for repairs for as long as she could remember. She stepped out, feeling dread at the prospect of living in the Athelstan’s family estate for a week. If only Nancy had told her of the living arrangements, she would have thought twice about moving out.

A footman appeared and hauled the bags upstairs to Nancy’s rooms.

“What am I going to do here for a days and days?” Emeera asked.

“Join my lady mother in all her boring teas so she won’t think you made me abandon my family.”

“Ha ha very funny. She hates me anyway and no tea can purge me of those alleged sins.”

“Mama does not hate you-”

“She mistakenly sent cayenne pepper and chilli incense to my room last time I was here. Who uses cayenne pepper incense please?”

“An oversight. A mistake anyone can make.” They were on the second floor landing where Nancy had her bedroom.

“She told your family and friends I look like a creature from the tombs she saw in Egypt.”

“She was trying to say you are exotic but mama has never been able to correctly phrase her descriptions.” Nancy opened the room and they entered. Nancy’s room in the castle was the size of both their bedrooms in the cottage.

“She almost drowned Mrs. Peters in the pool.” Mrs. Peters had been Emeera’s cat. The cat had been missing for months before the Duke’s party.

“But, did it die?” Nancy asked, pulling off her shoes.

“I don’t understand. So, since it did not die, I should applaud her for the attempt? And last time I checked, Mrs. Peters is still missing. We don’t know if she finally drowned.”

“I’m just saying, it’s only a week. You have nowhere else to go in Savoy. We should make the best out of it and try to get on Mama’s good side.”

“Does that include dressing up for dinners, pretending to laugh at her jokes and tolerating her snobbish lady friends at these incessant parties?”

“Yes. And you will do so gracefully. Maybe one of them will even recommend you for another position somewhere else.”

“I don’t need their charity,” Emeera said.

“It’s not charity if you will be working for your income,” Nancy replied. Emeera secretly agreed with her.

After unpacking, she showered and slept. Nancy went to the garden to explain to her mother that Emeera was going to be their guest for some days. Lady Athelstan already knew of Emeera’s visit as she was there when the telephone rang for Nancy and she had rushed to go get her friend. But Lady Athelstan never understood Nancy’s friendship with that girl who seemed like bad influence but like a proper lady, she was going to endure Emeera with a smile on her face.

As lady Athelstan hugged her last guest goodbye, Nancy went to her. “You know I hate it when you wear shorts,” her mother said in the same tone she said her sweet farewells.

“It’s airy.”

“It’s not something a well-bred lady should wear.”

“I thought the jury had decided that I am not well-bred,” Nancy said as she bit into some cookies. The servants clearing the table left the platter that contained the cookies Nancy was having.

“And young lady, you eat too loudly,” lady Athelstan said.

“Mama you already have the prim and proper daughters you want. Please just let me breathe,” Nancy said. Her mother wanted to say something but she bit back her words.

“So what brought you out here?”

“Emeera is here. And she needs a place to stay for sometime. If the cottage was fine, we would be there but…”

“Fine. I hate to agree to this nuisance of a girl but she can stay. Now, what did she do to get her fired on the first job she got since graduation? And by the Duke, no less. It must be quite scandalous.” Lady Athelstan loved juicy gossip; that was why she hosted so many teas.

“You will have to inquire about it from Emeera herself as I don’t know. It is not my business so I did not bother asking mama,” Nancy read the magazine one of the women left behind. It contained gossip from the first page to the last. “People actually devote themselves to reading gossip? Educate the girl child so she can get the latest gossip in print?”

“A lady should not speak like that, Nancy!”

“I suppose a lady can gossip mama. But thank you for taking Emeera in. It means a lot to me,” Nancy said, gave her mother a quick kiss on the cheek and went inside the house.